Mechanical horse



May 2, 1961 Filed Feb. 12. 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1

34 50 .54 52 0 T. -3 L- 0 6a o 30 INVENTOR. A94 q/ A 4h/4 m4s;

y 1961 1. J. HAWKINS 2,982,559

MECHANICAL HORSE Filed Feb. 12, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7a 44 INVENTOR. A634 c/ waem/s;

ATTUQ VEYS.

Unit-ed statis Perm MECHANICAL HORSE Ira J. Hawkins, Box D, Mesa, Colo. Filed Feb. 12, 1960, Set. No. 8,362 6 Claims. or. 280-1482) The present invention relates to a mechanical horse which can be propelled forwardly or backwardly by the manipulation of a rider seated thereon.

Previously proposed have been hobby or mechanical horses which may be propelled forwardly by the movements of a rider seated thereon. The mechanical horses proposed or presently in use generally have a principle of operation which fails to provide a life-like type of motion. Additionally, the horses proposed are movable only in the forward direction which limits the play of the rider and requires the dismounting ofthe rider and manually lifting and turning of the horse.

An object of the present invention is to provide a mechanical horse which has a rhythmic undulating forward or rearward motion imitating the movements of a live horse.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mechanical horse which is movable in either the forward direction or rearward direction by the movements of the rider thereon, the selection of the direction of movement being rapid in execution at the will of the rider and with ease and facility.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a mechanical horse which is sturdy in construction, one simple in structure requiring no skilled labor for its manufacture or assembly, and one which is highly effective in action.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be fully apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of the mechanical horse according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view;

Figure 3 is a sectional view with dotted line showings indicating the movement of the head and rear legs; and

Figure 4 is a top plan view showing the swinging movement of the front section relative to the body and rear section.

Referring in greater detail to the drawings in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, the mechanical horse of the present invention comprises a main body having a saddle12 on the upper end thereof. The horse includes a front section 14 including a pair of legs 16 and 18 depending from the section 14 and wheels 20 and 22 rotatably attached to the lower ends of the legs 16 and 18, respectively. The wheels 20 and 22 support the legs for rolling movement over a ground surface.

A head 24 is connected to the front section 14 for pivotal forward and backward movement about a horizontal axis or hinge pin 26 of a hinge assembly 28 having one leaf thereof secured to the understructure element 30 of the head 24 and having the other leaf secured to the upper end of the shoulder portion of the front section 14, as shown most clearly in Figure 3.

Means is provided securing the from section 14 to the main body 10 for swinging movement about a vertical axis. Specifically, this means consists in another hinge assembly 32 having a hinge pin 34, one leafof the assembly 32 being secured to the front section 14' and secured to the main body 10 with the hinge pin 34 vertically disposed, as shown most clearly in Figure 3.

The horse includes a rear section 36 including a pair of rear legs 38 and 40 depending from the section 36 and wheels 42 and 44 attached to the'lower ends of the, legs 38 and 40, respectively, for rollably supporting the legs 38 and 40 on a ground surface.

Means connects the rear section 36 to the main body 10 for pivotal movement of the section 36 and main body 10 relative to each other. i

Specifically, this means consists in a third hinge as sembly 46 including a hinge pin 48, one leaf of the hinge assembly 46 being secured under the saddle 12 to the main body 10 and the other leaf being secured to the top of the rear section 36, as shown in Figure 3.

Means is provided connecting the rear legs 38 and 40 to the head 24 so that execution of the forward movement of the head 24 will move the rear legs 38 and 40 away from the front legs 16 and 18 and will maintain the saddle 12 above the rear section 36 and execution of the rearward movement of the head 26 will move the rear legs 38 and 40 toward the legs 16 and 18 and main tain the saddle 12 above the rear section 36.

Specifically, this means includes an upright actuator bar positioned within the hollow body 10 intermediate the ends thereof and having the upper end pivotally con nected to the body 10 for'swinging forward and backward movement of the bar, the bar being designated by the reference numeral 50 in Figure 3.

The means includes a first connector 52 having one 'end pivotally connected to the lower end of the head understructure element 30 and having the other end' pivotally connected to thelower end of the actuator bar 50.

Another connector 54 has one end pivotally connected to the actuator bar 50 intermediate the ends of the latter and has its other end pivotally connected to a bracket 56 which depends from the inside of the rear section 36, the bracket 56 being securely fastened to the rear section 36. The upper end of the actuator bar 50 is pivotally connected by means of a pivot pin 58, serving as a hori-' zontal axis, to the flanges of an inverted channel mem-' ber 60 which has its web secured to the underside of the saddle 12. I Both the bracket 56 and the actuator bar 50' are provided with a plurality of holes for the connection of the connector 54 in order that the length of stride of the" rear legs 38 and 40 may be adjusted to suit the weight of the individual seated upon the saddle 12. Such holes. are designated by the numerals 62 and 64 for the bar" 50 and bracket 56, respectively.

Hand actuable means is provided operatively connected to the wheel 44 for selectively preventing rotation of the wheel 44 in one or the other direction. Specifically, this means includes bars 66 and 68 extending over the periphery of the wheel 44 and carried on the free ends of the legs of a V-shaped element 70 pivotally connected atits apex to the adjacent portion of the leg 40, as shown in Figures 2 and 4.

The core of a flexible cable assembly 72 has one end operatively connected to one of the legs of the element 70 and the other end extending through a forward portion of the saddle 12 and terminating in a hand actuable, knob 74 which may be pulled upwardly or pushed downwardly to adjust the element 70 between positions in which the bar 66 engages the wheel periphery or the bar 68 engages the wheel periphery, 'or to a position in which ae ae a 3 neither the bar 66 nor the bar 68 engage the wheel PB", ripheiy.

A flexible rein 76 of leather, or the like, has its ends secured to the head 24 and a midpart' accessible to a rider when seated in the. saddle 12. The rear section 36 is provided with a plume representing a horses tail, as at 78. The body and sections 14 and 36, together with the head 24, may be painted in such color as to further the resemblance with a living horse.

In use, an individual seated on the saddle 12 may repeatedly apply a pulling force to the rein midpart which causes the head 24 to move back. This effects forward movement of the legs 38. and 40 and; upward movement of the rearward end portion of the body 10. Upon release of the rein 76, the weight of the head 24 causes it to fall forward and the weight of the individual tends to force the rearward end portion of the body to the level, or substantially the same level, as the rear section 36. This results in movement of the legs 38 and 40 away from the legs 16 and 18, but the bar 66 prevents rotation of the wheel 4.4.rearwardly so the forward wheels and 22 are forced to roll forwardly over. the ground surface 80.

Upon pulling of the knob 74 to the position in which the bar 68 engages the periphery of the wheel 44, the reverse will take place and the exertion of a pulling force to the rein 76 will effect the backward movement of the horse onthe ground surface 80.

With each movement of the legs 38 and 40 from the full line position, in Figure 3 to the dotted line position, the rear legs 38 and 40 will move away from the front legs. 16 and 18 and will maintain the saddle 12 of the body 10 above the rear section 36. Upon forward move ment of the rearward legs 38 and 40, the rear section 36 will return to its positionadjacent the body 10 and below the saddle 12 of the body 10. This movement of the rear section 36 relative to the body 10, is indicated in full lines and dotted lines in Figure 3.

The arcuate movement of the rear end portion of the body 10 will be in an arc of a circle having the center ofthe. wheels 20 and 22 as its center. Additionally, as the point of pivotal connection of the rear section 36 with thebody 10 is the pin 48 which is substantiallyin vertical alignment with the. centers of the wheels 42 and 44, the... rearward motion of the legs 38* and, 40v away from the legs 16 and 18 will effect movement of the rear section. 36 away from theirear. end; portion of, the body 10 with the saddle 12 remaining. above the rear section 36 with each motion of the wheels 42 and 44. This combined motion will simulate the undulating movement of a horse as it is ridden.

What is claimed is:

1. In a mechanical horse, a main, body, a saddle on the top of said body, a front sectionrincluding a pair of front legs depending from said section and a wheel rotatably attached to the lower end of each of said legs for rollably supporting said legs on a ground surface, a head connected to said front section for pivotal forward and backward movement about a horizontal axis, means securing said front section to said body for swinging movement about a vertical axis, a rear section including a pair of rear legs depending from said section and a wheel rotatably attached to the lower end of each of said rear legs for rollably supporting said rear legs on said ground surface, means connecting said rear section to said main body for pivotal movement of said section and body relative to each other, and means connecting said rear legs to said head so that execution of the forward movement of said head will move said rear legs away from said front legs and maintain the saddle above said rear section and execution of the rearward movement of said head will move said rear legs toward said front legs and maintain the saddle above said rear section.

2. In a mechanical horse, a main body, a saddle on the top of said body, a front section including a p r of .4 front legs depending from said section and a wheel r tatably attached to the lower end of each of said legs for rollably supporting said legs on a ground surface, a head connected to said front section for pivotal forward and backward movement about a horizontal axis, means securing said front section to said body for swinging movement about a vertical axis, a rear section including a pair of rear legs depending from said section and a wheel rotatably attached to the lower end of each of said rear legs for rollably supporting said rear legs on said ground surface, means connecting said rear section to said main body for pivotal movement of said section and body relative to each other, and means connecting said rear legs to said head so that execution of the forward movement of said head will move said rear legs away from said front legs and maintain the saddle above said rear section and execution of the rearward movement of said head will move said rear legs toward said front legs and maintain the saddle above said rear section.

3. In a mechanical horse, a main body, a saddle on the top of said body, a front section including a pair of front legs depending from said section and a wheel rotatably attached to the lower end of each of said legs for rollably supporting said legs on a ground surface, a head connected to said front section for pivotal forward and backward movement about a horizontal axis, means securing said front section to said body for swinging movement about a vertical axis, a rear section including a pair of rear legs depending from said section and a wheel rotatably attached to the lower end of each of said rear legs for rollably supporting said rear legs on said ground surface, means connecting said rear section to said main body for pivotal movement of said section and body relative to each other, means connecting said rear legs to said head so that execution of the forward movement of said head will move said rear legs away from said front legs and maintain the saddle above said rear section and execution of the rearward movement of said head will move said rear legs toward said front legs and maintain the saddle above said rear section, and hand actuable means operatively connected to one of the lastmentioned wheels for selectively preventing rotation thereof in one or the other direction.

4. In a mechanical horse, a main body, a saddle on the top of said body, a front, section including a pair of front legs depending from said section and a wheel rotatably attached to the lower end of each of said legs for rollably supporting said legs on a ground surface, a head connected to saidfront section for pivotal forward and backward movement about a horizontal axis, means sccuring said front section to said body for swinging movement about a vertical axis, arear section including a pair of rear legs depending from saidsection and a wheel rotatably attached to the lower end of each of said rear legs for rollably supporting said rear legs on said ground surface, means connecting said rear section to said main body for pivotal movement of said section and body relative to each other, and means connecting said rear legs to said head so that execution of the forward movement of said head will move said rear legs away from said front legs and maintain the saddle above said rear section and execution of the rearward movement of said head will move said rear legs-toward said front legs and main tain the. saddle above said rear section, said last named means including an actuator bar supported on said body, for swinging movement about a horizontal axis, a first connector connecting said head to said bar for movement with the latter, and a second connector connecting said rear section to said bar for movement with said bar.

5. In a mechanical horse, a hollow main body, a saddle on thc top of. said body, a front section including a pair of front legs depending from said section and a wheel rotatably attached to the lower end of each of said legs for rollably supporting said legs on a ground surface, a head connected intermediate'the upper and lower ends about a vertical axis, a rear section including a pair of I rear legs depending from said section and a wheel rotatably attached to the lower end of each of said rear legs for rollably supporting said rear legs on said ground surface, an upright actuator bar positioned within said body intermediate the ends thereof and having the upper end pivotally connected to said body for swinging forward and backward movement of said bar, a first connector having one end pivotally connected to the lower end of said head for movement therewith and having the other end pivotally connected to the lower end of said bar, and a second connector having one end pivotally connected to said bar intermediate the ends thereof and having the other end pivotally connected to said rear section so that execution of the forward movement of said head will move said rear legs away from said front legs and maintain the saddle above said rear section and execution of the rearward movement of said head will move said rear legs toward said front legs and maintian the saddle above said rear section.

6. In a mechanical horse, a hollow main body, a saddle on the top of said body, a front section including a pair of front legs depending from said section and a wheel rotatably attached to the lower end of each of said legs for rollably supporting said legs on a ground surface, a head connected intermediate the upper and lower ends to said front section for pivotal forward and backward movement about a horizontal axis, means securing said front section to said body for swinging movement about a vertical axis, a rear section including a pair of rear legs depending from said section and a wheel rotatably attached to the lower end of each of said rear legs for rollably supporting said rear legs on said ground surface,

an upright actuator bar positioned within said body intermediate the ends thereof and having the top pivotally connected to said body for swinging forward and backward movement of said bar, a first connector having one end pivotally connected to the lower end of said head for movement therewith and having the other end pivotally connected to the lower end of said bar, and a second connector having one end pivotally connected to said bar intermediate the ends thereof and having the other end pivotally connected to said rear section so that execution of the forward movement of said head will move said rear legs away from said front legs and maintain the saddle above said rear section and execution of the rearward movement of said head will move said rear legs toward the front legs and maintain the saddle above said rear section.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 1,440,088 Kroher Dec. 26, 1922 1,651,583 Calleson Dec. 6, 199.7 1,742,737 Toth Jan. 7, 1930 2,195,824 Ochoa Apr. 2, 1940 2,614,855 Lolmaugh Oct. 21, 1952 

